This document discusses early childhood professional development between Cape Coast University in Ghana and Winston-Salem State University. It outlines the UNESCO goals of improving early childhood education and care. It defines early childhood as birth to 8 years old and explains the need for highly qualified early childhood professionals. It also describes a memorandum of understanding signed between the two universities to collaborate on early childhood teacher preparation programs and cultural exchanges.

1. Implications for Early Childhood Professional Development and Teacher Education between Cape Coast University and Winston-Salem State University Dr. Kay Hamlin, Assistant Professor/Coordinator of Distance Learning Dr. Claudia Warren, Professor, Birth through Kindergarten Education Winston-Salem State University

2. Welcome!

3. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Education for All (EFA) goals What is early childhood? Why is there a need for highly qualified early childhood professionals? The Ghanaian Experience and Memorandum of Understanding Conclusions

4. UNESCO EFA Goals http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=42579&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

5. Goal one: Expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, is the goal we will address.

6. What is early childhood? Why the need for early childhood professionals?

7. According to UNESCO’s Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) unit, early childhood is defined as “the period from birth to 8 years old.” (UNESCO, 2008)

8. There is a need for highly qualified professionals who intentionally plan environments, including the home environment, that support and nurture the growth and development of young children during these years.

9. Intentional teaching, which includes curriculum development based upon assessment, application, and reflection, helps to promote growth and development across all domains in young children.

10. Intentional teaching lays the foundation needed to support the concept of professionally trained, highly qualified, teachers.

11. Current research confirms findings that teacher qualifications significantly affect the quality of care and education provided to young children (McMullen and Alat, 2008).

12. The UNESCO Teacher Training Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa (TTISSA) is a new 10-year project designed to dramatically improve teacher training capacities in 46 sub-Saharan countries.

13. More information regarding the TTISSA is available on the UNESCO website (http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=42605&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html)

14. The UNESCO TTISSA will assist in further development of teacher education programs, and will help to facilitate the cultural exchange between Ghana and the United States.

15. Dialogue between the administrators of the University of Cape Coast and Winston-Salem University has begun in order to assist with the cultural exchange for early childhood teacher preparation.

16. The Ghanaian Experience

17. In the summer of 2010, WSSU professors and students participated in a four week study abroad program in Ghana and Benin.

18. The purposes of the program were 1. To learn about the history, culture and educational systems, as well as other broad issues that impact education, and

19. 2. To engage WSSU and UCC faculty for the purpose of developing a collaboration agreement in relation to early childhood education.

20. In June, 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and Winston-Salem State University, USA, was signed.

21. The MOU states, in part, that . . . “[the Parties] conduct programs and activities of basic and applied research, education and training, technology and information transfer, and economic development.”

22. Conclusions

23. Future dialogue will inform decisions regarding teacher preparation and exchange programs Dialogue should include cultural implications for early care and education A needs assessment should be administered to inform strategies for cultural exchange

24. Thank you!